Teen charged with shooting, wounding two near Allen High

Another teen is sought in incident that left two students wounded.

A 16-year-old boy was charged Monday night with shooting into a crowd of Allen High School students as they walked home last week, hitting two students, according to court records.

Shatiek D. Ransome of Allentown, who attends Dieruff High School, was charged as an adult with attempted homicide and related charges. He was arraigned by District Judge Rod Beck and sent to Lehigh County Prison under $1 million bail.

Allentown police are looking for a second teen involved in the shooting, Hanson Gordon, 18, of Allentown, who was identified in court papers as the one who handed Ransome a black 9 mm handgun and said, "We about to let loose."

A female Allen High student was shot in the right thigh Dec. 12 as she walked in the area of 16th and Turner streets near West Park, police said. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest with non-life-threatening injuries.

Another victim was later found at Lehigh Valley Hospital at 17th and Chew streets. According to court records, that student walked into the hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound to the palm.

Police did not release a motive for the shooting, but it appears the victims were not the intended targets of the shooter.

According to a criminal complaint:

Allentown police were dispatched at 2:55 p.m. on a report of a shooting near Allen High. Police spoke to several witnesses and learned that the two involved in the shooting were Ransome and Gordon. Police have a warrant out for Gordon, charging him too with attempted homicide.

Witnesses said they saw Gordon with a gun and heard him say, "We about to let loose."

The two teens walked east on Turner Street, and Gordon passed the gun to Ransome, who crossed Turner Street and ran toward an unidentified male. Ransome fired four shots at the male in the area of 16th and Turner streets, but his target did not appear to be hurt and fled, police said.

Ransome and Gordon fled on foot. Police did not release any information on the victims, but did say the female is an Allen student.

The next day, school officials beefed up security and said they had counselors and psychologists for students. Witnesses said girls could be seen crying after the shooting.

Allentown police have had a history of dealing with problems when Allen High students are let out of school and make their way home, including fights, stabbings and at least one other shooting.

Two years ago, one student was slashed with a machete during a fight after school and a man was shot trying to avoid the fight. Two students were charged in the attack.

Besides attempted homicide, Ransome is charged with one count conspiracy to commit homicide, four counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a minor.